Joe Cortez

[The Weebler]

I'd love to agree but I can't.

Floyd was just better. End of.

Cortez killed Ricky's style of fighting. End of.

Floyd was losing when the fight was played Ricky's way, ricky lost when the fight was reffed Floyd's way.

[brently1979]

Cortez killed Ricky's style of fighting. End of.

Floyd was losing when the fight was played Ricky's way, ricky lost when the fight was reffed Floyd's way.

You mean a fair way. So what you're saying is Hatton couldn't have won any other way?

[Toller]

Hatton only ever had a slim chance of victory; Mayweather is simply too good for him. However, Cortez was terrible and took away what little chance he had.

[sparked_85]

Hatton only ever had a slim chance of victory; Mayweather is simply too good for him. However, Cortez was terrible and took away what little chance he had.

I agree with this.

[laurensleanard]

This is boxing, not judo... How can you say that a referee could let floyd win he hasent got gloves on...Hatton didnt have a change. All props for Floyd Mayweather.

[squealpiggy]

Cortez was warning Ricky when Floyd was holding. And the officiating was awful!

[ajc1984]

Floyd was too good, but Cortez was terrible and made an already near impossible task for Hatton even harder with some very poor refereeing.

[col Blake]

Cortez was suckerd by Floyd, Billy Graham told him about Floyds tactics but the old man was duped, he should now quit boxing, he is finished as a ref.

[Migs]

Joe Cortez did a horrible job last night. He was separating the two with no chance of letting them break it themselves, in fact, he was rushing in the minute any holding went on whatsoever. What really pissed me off was that he docks Hatton a point for a "foul" but Mayweather is using elbows the whole fight and Cortez does nothing! I'm not pissed at any of the fighters but I will say honestly that Mayweather was doing the holding last night, not Hatton. Somebody got paid last night though because those score cards for the first four rounds were ****ed giving them to Mayweather and Cortez couldn't of reffed more unfairly in my opinion. **** CORTEZ!

Now about both fighters. I thought Hatton looked great last night and was fierce as ever but he was asking to get torn up due to his emotions getting the best of him. He wasn't fighting smart towards the end and rightfully so as Cortez was extremely unfair to him. Regardless, his lack of defense and head movement in the latter half of the fight caused him to take to much punishment and he left himself open and got caught plain and simple. Kudos to Ricky for not clinching like he usually does. I thought it was the cleanest he's fought in a while minus the rabbit punch.
For Floyd Mayweather, what can I say, he absolutely stunned me with that knockout. I wasn't sure if he had it in him to pull a KO of that magnitude off again. He clearly adjusted to Hatton's style about the 5th or 6th round and the rest is history from there. I give him kudos for grabbing an undisputable win, free of poor judging and controversy.......he better man up though and clean out the rest of the welterweight division if he wants to make his GOAT claims though. Nonetheless, I do feel this win does continue to help him get to that claim.
I'm still bummed about the fight and wanted Hatton to win but I am grateful to Mayweather for keeping this out of the judges hands. My frustration is strictly for Cortez. Most of the time I don't blame a fighter for tactics he may use, as frustrating as it may be to watch, because it's the refs job to stop any nonsense and let's face it, I you keep doing something and getting away with it (clinching, elbows, etc.) why stop? Steve Smoger should have reffed last night. All in all, great fight, good way to end the year and I look forward to 2008 and the great matchups that will take place next year.

[Sudo]

Cortez was firm, but where was the fair part?